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An elderly woman has died of the flu virus. She is the first Bay Area death. Marianne Favro reports. (Published Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014)

Updated at 6:08 PM PDT on Thursday, Jan 17, 2013

Santa Clara County Public Health Department officials on Thursday said that a 98-year-old woman with a host of chronic illnesses died of the flu earlier this month, and the overall flu fear prompted some changes in the Catholic Church.

Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara Cunty's health officer, did not go into much detail about the woman, including naming what city she lived in. He did, however, say that some pharmacies have been running low on flu shots.

Flu Epidemic Misses California For Now

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 40 states are experiencing widespread flu activity. California is one of the few states reporting only regional activity but doctors warn that wont last long. NBC Bay Area's Marianne Favro reports. (Published Thursday, Jan 10, 2013)

At the same time, the San Jose Diocese announced on Thursday some "drastic" measures it was taking because of the flu season. Bishop Patrick J. McGrath said in an email that for as long as the flu lasts, the Diocese will only offer bread for communion, but not the wine, because parishioners have to share the same cup.

He also advised that everyone use hand sanitizers before they hand out the wafers. The dioceses in San Francisco and Oakland told NBC Bay Area they are leaving it up to the individual parishes to decide how to handle prayer and the flu.

Finding a Flu Shot in the Bay Area

Kimberly Tere reports on the Bay Area quest this weekend to find a medical facility who can give you and your family a flu shot. (Published Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014)

"We're continuing to see influenza activity remaining elevated in most of the U.S.," Frieden said. "It may be decreasing in some areas, but that's hard to predict, because particularly when you have data from over the holidays season."

While 24 states are still reporting a high level of flu, that number is down from 29 the previous week. Frieden went on to say the data showing the flu could be waning may have been skewed by the holidays, a time during which doctors may be on vacation or people may be less likely to seek treatment.

Since the outbreak began in October, more than 3,700 people have been hospitalized with the flu, and 20 children have died.

This year's vaccine has been 62 percent effective, about what the CDC expected given current conditions, according to Frieden, who warned that even if the flu is ebbing, flu season is far from over.

"Nationally, it's likely that flu will continue for several more weeks," said Frieden. "During the past decade we have seen an average of about 12 consecutive weeks — three months — of ILI (influenza-like illness) being elevated. But as we often say, the only thing predictable about flu is that it's unpredictable. Only time will tell us how long our season will last and how moderate or severe this season will be in the end."